Helen Kane

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Biography

Helen Kane (August 4, 1903 - September 26, 1966) was an American popular singer, best known for her “boop-boop-a-doop” trademark and her signature song, “I Wanna Be Loved By You”. Fleischer Studios animator Grim Natwick used Kane as the model for his studio’s most famous creation, Betty Boop.

Helen Kane’s first performance at the Paramount Theater in Times Square proved to be her defining moment and career’s launching point. Kane was singing the popular song “That’s My Weakness Now,” when she interpolated the scat lyrics “boop-boop-be-doop.” The rather odd gamble paid off, and four days later, Helen Kane’s name went up in lights. Overnight, the world changed for Helen. Kane’s agent Harry Besney got her $5,500 a week in Oscar Hammerstein’s show “Good Boy” (where she introduced her hit, “I Want to Be Loved By You”). From there it was back to the Palace, but this time as a headliner for $5000 a week.

In mid-1929, Paramount Pictures signed Helen to make a series of musicals. Her first of three 1929 films was “Nothing But the Truth”, a comedy starring Richard Dix. From there Kane went into a college musical, “Sweetie”, which starred Nancy Carroll and Stanley Smith. “Paramount on Parade”, “Dangerous Nan McGrew”, and “Heads Up!” were her last films.

In 1932, she filed an unsuccessful $250,000 suit against Paramount and Max Fleischer, charging unfair competition and wrongful appropriation in the Betty Boop cartoons.
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  • KingFahtah

    This woman invented Cyndi Lauper?

    25 Apr 3:02pm Reply

  • VTTRSA

    An example of pure personality combined with enough talent, she emanates a huge part of the American dream! The easiest artist from the golden era of radio for me to fall in love with :,)

    13 Aug 2012 Reply

  • SailorJerry_Gal

    Very Underrated

    11 Mar 2012 Reply

  • phatpaid

    I wish more people were aware of her in this day and age.

    9 Jan 2012 Reply

  • insomniacme

    i feel uneasy listening to her. i feel uneasy enjoying her voice.

    14 Aug 2011 Reply

  • catholicbird

    her voice is so awesome

    1 Jul 2011 Reply

  • noosfera

    Boop-oop A-doop!

    26 Feb 2011 Reply

  • vaughnvhalen

    'm not one of the pretty kind. All of my thoughts are simple. I know what's on my mind. I'm not resting until I find, What would make your eyes glisten with joy. Now, listen, Big Boy. I wanna be loved by you, just you, And nobody else but you, I wanna be loved by you, alone! Boop-boop-a-doop! I wanna be kissed by you, just you, And nobody else but you, I wanna be kissed by you, alone! Boop-boop, I couldn't aspire, To anything higher, Than filled with desire, To make you my own! Boop-boop-a-doop, boop-boop-a-doop! I wanna be loved by you, just you, And nobody else but you, I wanna be loved by you, alone! Aa-ah-um! Boop-boop-a-doop! Daddle-at-dat-dat-dum, I couldn't aspire, To anything higher, Than filled with desire, To make you my own, Bup-bum, butle-doodle-dum-bum! I wanna be loved by you, just you, Nobody else but you, I wanna be loved by you, a-lup-a-dup-a-dup-a-dup! Boop-boop-a-doop

    11 Dec 2010 Reply

  • insomniacme

    boopa boopa doop

    27 Sep 2010 Reply

  • MusicalIrish

    Never tire of listening to her. Her talent needs to be discovered by more.

    19 Aug 2010 Reply

  • jhymn

    amazing

    22 Jul 2010 Reply

  • moonbaby9307

    wish more people knew Helen Kane

    23 Mar 2010 Reply

  • Retro_Saiyan

    She is beyond the mere word "awesome". She is "awesome" itself. You know how they store gold as part of the way they make paper money have actual value? She does the same for awesome.

    7 Jan 2010 Reply

  • Niekas_Niekur

    Totally strange alien-bird voice girl from 30s. And I really like her.

    21 Sep 2009 Reply

  • Venusheart

    He likes to boop oop a doop , but i never cared to Boop oop a doop, But he likes to Boop oop a doop and thats My Weakness now! Love helen kanes style without it betty boop would have never been created

    15 Jun 2009 Reply

  • Uncle_Monty

    CUDDLECORE

    7 Jun 2009 Reply

  • maulofsound

    suddenly the fact that her voice reminds me of betty boop makes total sense.

    16 Nov 2008 Reply

  • awffle

    The fact that House of 1000 Corpses is her *top album* is depressing. Don't more people know who she is already??

    9 May 2008 Reply

  • PappaWheelie

    I'd stop playing my ukulele and lay my raccoon coat down over a puddle for her.

    8 Apr 2008 Reply

  • Alex_Stone91

    sooooo cute *O*

    2 Jan 2008 Reply
    • All 28 shouts

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